Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-03-24
COMMUNICATED

Messrs. EditoH:-In Mr.. Harris last card,
In which he names some Of the conspira-
tors in the John Brown raid into Virginia,
among them the late John A. Andrew,
Governor of Massachusetts, reminds me of
the action of our State Legislature in re-
gard 10 the mob in Baltimore on the 10Th
of April, 1861, in which some of the sol.
diers of Massachusetts, were killed and
wounded, and who killed and wounded
some of the citizens of that city. The Leg
islature of 1862 appears to have been natu-
rally anxious TO wipe out that stain" and
with that view passed the following pream-
bic and bill:
whereas, the 9th regiment of Massa-
chusetts volunteers on their way 10 defend
the National Capital were brutality attacked
by mob in the streets of Baltimore on the
18th of April, 1861, and three were killed
and eight wounded; and, whereas, the State
OF Maryland is anxious to do something to
eiface that stain from her hitherto unfair
nished honor; therefore be enacted by the
General Assembly Of Maryland, that the
sum of $1,000 be and the same is hereby
appropriated and placed at the disposal of
His Excellency, John 4. Andrew, or any
one acting as Governor of Massachusetts,
who shall disburse the same in the manner
and proportion he thinks best for the relief
of the families Of those belonging to the 9th
regiment of Massachusetts, volunteers who
We're killed or disabled by wounds received
in the riot of the 18th of April in Balti-
more"
While the above was under considera-
ton, Mr.. Bond, of Calvert, proposed the
following: Strike out the words the sum
Of $1,000, and insert, the same sum as has
been or may be appropriated by the State
of Massachusetts, for the relief of the citi-
zcns who were killed and wounded by citi-
zens of Massachusetts, under John Brown.
and also the same sum as has been or may
be appropriated by the State of Pennsylva-
mia for the relief of Kennedy and Gorsuch
and other citizens of Maryland killed in
that State by rioters
Our representatives being more anxious
to appear honorable" than just rejected
this last proposed amendment This, no
doubt, was offered from the belief that
John Browns raid was instigated in Mas
sachusetts, and the developments since show
that that belief was well founded, as APP
pears from Mr.. Harris letter TO you. More
over, the Massachusetts volunteers after
they were relieved from all danger from
the mob of Baltimore, fired their muskets
into u crowd who were merely spectators
of the scene, and killed and wounded seve-
raj of our citizens. 1t appears to me that
this should have been considered fair set
off 10 all complaints of Massachusetts, and
If Maryland was willing TO relieve the fam
lilies of her killed and wounded she should
have been willing TO do the same towards
those of our murdered and wounded citi-
zens. Though Massachusetts, was den of
conspirators against the constitutional rights
Of onr people, yet she was only ahead of all
other Northern States of the same stamp,
and our Legislature, in my opinion. should
have been slow TO recognize any honorable
claim Massachusetts had on Maryland for
such an act Of Il mob when the whole
North teemed with robbers of our property
and murierers of its owners. The case of
the murdered Gorsuch and Others should
have brought our representatives to reflcc-
, ton before they paid tribute to MaSsachu-
sets. But STRANGELY enough they thought
their honor involved which declaration was
no doubt laughed 1t by Gov. Andrew when
he got Maryland's check for the $1,000 APP
preparation.
FAIR Play.